Sixteen Notable Books to Read in November 2026

Louise Kennedy’s "Stations" explores the lasting impact of first love through the lens of memory and regret. Scheduled for release on November 3, 2026, from Riverhead Books, it follows characters moving through their intertwined histories.

In "A Glacier’s Guide to Dying," Michelle Porter tells a poignant story about a young Métis man searching for his father amid Montana’s wildfires, releasing on November 3, 2026, via Algonquin. This narrative blends themes of loss with a touch of the uncanny.

John Scalzi’s "Monsters of Ohio," also releasing on November 3, 2026, from Tor, depicts a struggling town facing corporate decline while entwined in a bizarre mystery.

Ian Rankin shifts his focus from Edinburgh to London in "The Heights," a standalone thriller releasing November 3, 2026, from Cardinal. It unravels the dark secrets hidden within a luxurious apartment building following a concierge’s death.

Daisy Johnson’s "Long Wave," due out on November 24, 2026, from Riverhead Books, presents a multi-generational tale that examines motherhood and family secrets through a surreal lens.

Gary Shteyngart’s "The Sensualist," set for release on November 17, 2026, from Random House, is a collection of personal essays that humorously advocates the pursuit of pleasure in everyday life.

Priyanka Mattoo’s "How to Be Less Useful" argues against the relentless push for productivity in adulthood, combining memoir and humor in a release slated for November 3, 2026, from Knopf.

"Take My Word for It," a memoir by LeVar Burton along with Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, will be available on November 10, 2026, through Random House, sharing insights from Burton’s notable career in storytelling.

Lucy Tan’s "Tiger’s Mouth," releasing November 17, 2026, from Ballantine Books, intricately examines friendship and rivalry between two interns at a tech startup, exploring their contrasting ambitions.

Eve Sneider’s biography "The Absent Woman: The Genius of Janet Malcolm," set to be published on November 10, 2026, by W. W. Norton, analyzes Malcolm's influential approach to journalism and biography.

Rachel Maddow’s "Department of Fate" will discuss the U.S. Justice Department’s history, particularly in relation to civil rights, corruption, and political power, this book is set for November 10, 2026, also from Crown.

Paul Goldberger’s "The Imperfect City," releasing November 17, 2026, from Knopf, contemplates urban planning and the essence of city life.

"Broadway in Black and White" by John Mauceri and John H. McWhorter, set to be published on November 3, 2026, by W. W. Norton, chronicles the evolution of the American musical through diverse cultural influences.

Alex Pappademas’s "Friends of the Devil," illustrated by Joan LeMay, investigates The Grateful Dead through their music, combining criticism with original artwork, releasing on November 3, 2026, from Random House.

Patricia Nilsson’s "Guilty Pleasure" explores the complexities of the online pornography industry, looking at its societal implications, with a release date of November 17, 2026, from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Lastly, Matt O’Hara’s "The Flying Death" recounts a historical narrative surrounding the pursuit of a dangerous Amazonian vine for medicinal purposes, scheduled for November 10, 2026, from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.